FirstGroup will lease 14 new five-car trains from Hitachi Rail in a £500 million ($632 million) deal that includes maintenance over a decade, expanding its open-access rail operations across the UK. The trains will be manufactured at Hitachi’s factory in County Durham, northern England.
The agreement marks a significant expansion for FirstGroup’s commercial rail services, with the new fleet set to serve the recently announced London-Carmarthen route and boost capacity on existing Lumo and Hull Trains services along the East Coast Mainline.
FirstGroup CEO Graham Sutherland said the company aims to increase its open-access portfolio, which operates without government subsidies. The deal includes an option for 13 additional trains if regulators approve new route applications, including proposed services between London and Rochdale, and an extension of Lumo’s network to Edinburgh.
The contract provides a boost to Hitachi’s UK manufacturing base, with production scheduled to begin for 2027 delivery. The trains will be financed and owned by Angel Trains, adding to their existing Hitachi fleet portfolio.
Angel Trains CEO Malcolm Brown called it a milestone deal, noting it represents £250 million ($316 million) in private investment to expand rail connectivity between major UK regional centers.
The trains can operate in either electric or bi-mode configuration, supporting the industry’s shift toward lower-carbon transportation options.
